Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars…

Kahlil Gibran

Khalil Gibran (Arabic pronunciation: [xaˈliːl ʒiˈbrɑːn], born Gubran Khalil Gubran,[1] in academic contexts often spelled Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān,[2]:217[3]:255 Jibrān Khalīl Jibrān,[2]:217[4]:559 or Jibrān Xalīl Jibrān;[5]:189 Arabic جبران خليل جبران , January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) also known as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer. Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of the Ottoman Mount Lebanon mutasarrifate), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. He is chiefly known in the English speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, and became extremely popular in the 1960s counterculture. Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-